Chapter Summaries

Hun Cang joined a convoy bound for Heping Town, where he planned to continue toward Jia Nan Academy while avoiding attention from Soul Hall. He uncovered a family of three and the convoy leader as attackers, defeated them, and rode on toward town.

• Hun Cang paid for a place in a convoy traveling to Heping Town and rode with the passengers heading for Jia Nan Academy's entrance examination.
• During a rest stop, a burly man warned Hun Cang that the convoy leader targeted lone travelers and urged him to join his family.
• The burly man, his wife, and their son shared food and academy advice with Hun Cang, while the leader watched them from a distance.
• As the convoy neared Heping Town, the youth fell from the carriage and dragged Hun Cang down with him, prompting the leader to ride back.
• Hun Cang revealed that he had recognized the family as killers, and the family and convoy leader attacked him together.
• Hun Cang defeated the four attackers, mounted a horse, and rode toward Heping Town.

Hun Cang reached Heping Town and sought to join Jia Nan Academy, where Yellow-tier Mentor Huo De recognized his strength and offered him a place in an upcoming competition to help him enter the Inner Academy. The chapter ended with Hun Cang considering Huo De’s offer in exchange for joining his class.

• A girl regretted that her parents had stopped her from warning Hun Cang about the convoy, but her father reminded her that pity could be dangerous in the Black Corner Region.
• Hun Cang arrived at Heping Town, learned that Xiao Yu was away training, and asked where to register for Jia Nan Academy.
• Huo De learned that Hun Cang had been with a group whose leaders had died, and he invited him to lunch through his disciple Lin Gu.
• Huo De asked Hun Cang to join his class and admitted he hoped Hun Cang could help him advance from Yellow-tier Mentor.
• Hun Cang asked whether Huo De could help him enter the Inner Academy quickly, and Huo De offered him a competition slot two months later.

Hun Cang joined Jia Nan Academy’s entrance examination after Huo De arranged his registration, then endured the test despite the Black Storm’s appearance near Heping Town. The examination ended with Hun Cang still calm, securing his place among the survivors.

• Hun Cang agreed to Huo De’s request and had Lin Gu register him for the Inner Academy entrance examination.
• Hun Cang arrived in Heping Town on examination day and learned that fewer than one in ten applicants were expected to pass.
• A Black Storm approached Heping Town, then turned away after a ripple and faint laughter came from the Primeval Forest.
• Huo De explained that the academy’s headmaster had driven off the Black Storm before and warned Hun Cang about the heat of the stone stele.
• Hun Cang sat near the stele beside a young man who had prepared pills, and the examiner released the heat of the Falling Heart Flame.
• Applicants collapsed as the examination wore on, but Hun Cang remained relaxed when time ran out.

Hun Cang outlasted another entrant in Jia Nan Academy’s test and revealed his Heavenly Flame, earning Elder Lin’s approval. As Hun Cang traveled toward the academy, the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower exploded after the stone stele carrying traces of his Zhen Fen Jue was returned.

• The middle-aged man offered thirty days of Fire Energy to whoever endured longest, motivating the remaining young man to keep holding on against Hun Cang.
• The middle-aged man caught the young man receiving a Spirit Cleansing Pill, disqualified him for cheating, and knocked him unconscious after he accused Hun Cang of cheating too.
• Hun Cang showed Elder Lin his white Heavenly Flame, and Elder Lin warned him to behave at Jia Nan Academy before taking the stone stele away.
• Huo De told Hun Cang the stele would be returned to Falling Heart Flame, and Hun Cang worried that it carried traces of his Zhen Fen Jue.
• Hun Cang and the other test passers flew toward Jia Nan Academy, where they saw a blaze erupt and learned from Huo De that the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower had exploded.

The Falling Heart Flame erupted after Elder Lin returned a stone, and the academy elders suspected it had reacted to Hun Cang's Heavenly Flame. Huo De brought Hun Cang to Jia Nan Academy and arranged a courtyard for him, while Xiao Mei glimpsed someone she thought was Lord King Cang and learned that Luo Ling planned to target her family.

• Elder Lin said he had briefly removed and returned a stone before the Falling Heart Flame erupted, and the elders suspected Hun Cang's Heavenly Flame had provoked it.
• Elder Lin declined to recruit Hun Cang, explaining that Huo De needed a promising disciple to advance to Black-tier Mentor.
• Huo De brought the seventy students who passed the test to Jia Nan Academy and introduced Hun Cang to the other mentors.
• Huo De led Hun Cang to a quiet courtyard in the mentors' area and offered to arrange his meals.
• Xiao Mei thought she saw Lord King Cang near the teachers' dormitories, but dismissed the sighting after Tang Yan pointed out where the road led.
• Tang Yan warned Xiao Mei that Luo Ling planned to target the Xiao Family, and Xiao Mei wished that Lord King Cang or Xiao Yan were there.

Hun Cang settled into his courtyard and cultivated for more than a month while Xiao Mei waited in vain to see him again. When Luo Ling cornered Xiao Mei and threatened the Xiao Family, Xiao Yu returned from a mission and intervened.

• Hun Cang assured Huo De that he would pass the midterm Inner Academy assessment, then settled into his courtyard and cultivated in seclusion.
• Xiao Mei repeatedly waited on a main road, hoping to see Hun Cang, but never found him.
• Luo Ling returned to the academy and confronted Xiao Mei, blocking her exit with his followers.
• Luo Ling threatened Xiao Ning and the Xiao Family to pressure Xiao Mei, while his followers joined in harassing her.
• Xiao Yu returned from a mission, kicked through the group blocking Xiao Mei, rebuked Luo Ling, and led Xiao Mei away.

Xiao Yu returned to Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei after failing to secure a Shadow Leopard core needed to compensate for the item Xiao Ning had broken, leaving him at risk of expulsion. Meanwhile, Hun Cang reached Seven Star Grand Dou Shi and went with Huo De to take a preliminary test for the Inner Academy assessment.

• Luo Ling told his subordinate that Xiao Yu would soon have to beg them for help over the trouble Xiao Ning caused.
• Xiao Yu returned home and recalled how Xiao Ning had broken an item belonging to an Inner Academy senior, prompting her month-long hunt for a Shadow Leopard core that had escaped them.
• Xiao Ning vowed to kill Luo Ling before leaving the academy, but Xiao Yu warned him not to act recklessly and went upstairs to rest.
• Hun Cang completed his cultivation and recovered to Seven Star Grand Dou Shi, then considered training near the Falling Heart Flame to regain his former strength.
• Huo De told Hun Cang that the Inner Academy assessment was three days away and led him to take the preliminary strength test.

Hun Cang passed Jia Nan Academy’s midterm assessment as a Seven Star Grand Dou Shi, shocking Huo De with how quickly his cultivation had advanced. On his way home, Hun Cang encountered the injured Xiao Ning fleeing Luo Ling’s lackeys after Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei were lured into a dangerous fight.

• Hun Cang took the assessment and received a jade token after his age and Seven Star Grand Dou Shi cultivation were recorded.
• Huo De was stunned by Hun Cang’s rapid growth but chose not to report his suspicions to the academy.
• Hun Cang returned toward his courtyard while considering the Falling Heart Flame and how he would escape after obtaining it.
• Xiao Ning tried to reach Mentor Ruolin after learning Luo Ling had lured Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei into a fight, but Luo Ling’s lackeys chased him.
• Xiao Ning collided with Hun Cang, looked up, and called him “King Cang.”

Hun Cang rescued Xiao Ning from Luo Ling’s men and went with him to find Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Xun'er. After defeating a Shadow Leopard and bringing its Magical Core, Hun Cang confronted Luo Ling and left him and his followers terrified.

• Xiao Ning ran into Hun Cang, explained that Luo Ling’s men were harassing him and that Xiao Yu had gone with them to protect him from expulsion.
• Hun Cang knocked away the men surrounding Xiao Ning and followed him into the Primeval Forest.
• Hun Cang learned that Ling Ying had been protecting Xiao Xun'er at Jia Nan Academy and recognized that Ling Ying had likely taught Luo Ling a lesson before.
• Luo Ling threatened Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu while Xiao Yu fought one of his men and lost; he said Xiao Ning would be expelled unless they produced a third-tier Shadow Leopard’s Magical Core.
• Hun Cang arrived with a dead Shadow Leopard, turned it to ashes, and handed over its Magical Core before warning Luo Ling and leaving with Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Xun'er.

Hun Cang helped Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning recover the Shadow Leopard’s Magical Core, then teased Xiao Xun’er and met with Xiao Mei before the Jia Nan Academy assessment. At the assessment plaza, Luo Ling arrived with a group of Inner Academy disciples and pointed Hun Cang out to a tall young man.

• Luo Ling ordered his men to investigate Hun Cang after Hun Cang left the woods with Xiao Mei and the others.
• Hun Cang questioned Xiao Yu about her cultivation and teased Xiao Xun’er about her attachment to Xiao Yan and her curiosity about his strength.
• Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning returned the Shadow Leopard’s Magical Core without trouble, while Xiao Ning urged Xiao Yu to pursue Hun Cang.
• Xiao Mei followed Hun Cang to his courtyard and returned an hour later, blushing; three days afterward, Hun Cang joined the Outer Academy assessment for the Inner Academy.
• Luo Ling appeared at the assessment plaza with several dozen people, spotted Hun Cang, and pointed him out to a tall young man.

Luo Fei and Ke Yu joined the Inner Academy assessment, and Hun Cang learned they might be targeting him. As the participants feared the ruthless examiners, Hun Cang calmly wondered how much Fire Energy they carried.

• Luo Ling identified Hun Cang to his older brother Luo Fei, who ordered his followers to torment Hun Cang during the assessment and keep him from passing.
• Ke Yu arrived and revealed his interest in confronting Hun Cang over the rumors that Xiao Yu was Hun Cang's maid; Luo Fei learned Ke Yu had advanced to Eight Star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei worried that Ke Yu, Luo Fei, and their Dou Ling followers would endanger Hun Cang, while Xiao Xun'er left in irritation.
• The assessment participants recognized Luo Fei and Ke Yu as intimidating examiners, and Hun Cang wondered whether they were targeting him and how much Fire Energy they had.

Hun Cang joined Jia Nan Academy’s seven-day assessment, where Luo Fei and Ke Yu singled him out as a target. Elder Lin offered to take Hun Cang as his disciple if he passed, but Hun Cang refused and entered the assessment space.

• Hu Gan explained the assessment rules, and the contestants received Jade Talismans before flying toward the Inner Academy’s hidden grounds.
• On the Griffin, Hun Cang’s fellow students rejected the idea of teaming up with him because he had offended Luo Ling, while Lin Fang defended him.
• The group reached the assessment entrance, where Luo Fei warned Hun Cang not to be eliminated too early and Ke Yu invited him to join his faction if he passed.
• Elder Lin admitted that Hun Cang was the student who had caught his interest, then offered to take him as a disciple if he passed the assessment.
• Hun Cang said he was not interested and entered the passage, stunning the elders and the waiting contestants.

Hun Cang entered the assessment space and cultivated in a tree while the academy elders watched him through a mirror and worried he would encounter the assessors. After the assessors were released and began searching for him, they all passed beneath his hiding place without noticing him, leaving the elders stunned.

• Hun Cang entered the forest, burned attacking magical beasts with his Heavenly Flame, and climbed a tree to cultivate.
• Elder Su opened a mirror that showed the assessment space, and the elders recognized Hun Cang's unusual flame as possibly resembling the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
• Elder Lin insisted that he would take Hun Cang as his disciple, while Hu Gan teased him about the boy's route toward the assessment team.
• After two hours, Hun Cang remained hidden in a tree near Luo Fei, Ke Yu, and the other assessors as their confinement ended.
• Luo Fei ordered the assessors to search for Hun Cang, but everyone passed beneath his tree without seeing him, baffling Hu Gan and the two elders.

Hun Cang remained hidden while Luo Fei and Ke Yu searched the forest for him and forced assessment participants to help. As they cornered Lin Fang and his companions, Hun Cang revealed himself from a treetop and challenged the Dou Ling pursuers.

• Hu Gan and the elders concluded that Luo Fei and Ke Yu had overlooked Hun Cang, who remained in cultivation beneath the treetops.
• After six days of searching, Luo Fei ordered his men to find Hun Cang, while Ke Yu mocked him for failing.
• Assessment personnel dragged participants into the search, frightening students who had hoped to wait out the remaining time.
• A girl and a boy tried to force Lin Fang to be eliminated after their fire drew pursuers, and Lin Fang said he would rather have joined Hun Cang.
• Hun Cang called down from the treetop, asking whether he needed to hide from a few Dou Ling.

Hun Cang revealed his hardened physique while defeating the examinees who tried to capture him, then faced the approaching Luo Fei and Ke Yu. Sha Tie offered him a place on his team, but Hun Cang refused to leave and challenged the newcomers to attack together.

• Hun Cang appeared before Lin Fang and the examinees, while two fleeing participants were caught and removed from the assessment.
• Five examinees grabbed Hun Cang, but his body proved hard as jade, and he knocked all five unconscious without using Dou Qi.
• Sha Tie sent up a signal to summon Luo Fei and Ke Yu, while Hun Cang told Lin Fang to leave and discovered his body might withstand an ordinary Dou Wang.
• Hun Cang stopped one of Sha Tie's men from pursuing Lin Fang, and Sha Tie invited Hun Cang to join his team if he became an Inner Academy student.
• Luo Fei and Ke Yu arrived with dozens of people, and Hun Cang challenged them to attack him together.

Hun Cang defeated five peak Da Dou Shi attackers and overpowered Luo Fei, leaving the assembled Inner Academy students stunned. He then challenged Ke Yu to take his turn.

• Luo Fei and Ke Yu mocked Hun Cang for demanding that they attack together, and Luo Fei sent five students to fight him.
• Elder Lin warned Elder Su and Hu Gan that Hun Cang's Heavenly Flame could make the confrontation dangerous.
• Hun Cang moved faster than the five attackers could react and knocked all of them down in moments.
• Luo Fei charged Hun Cang with his Wind Wolf Devour technique, but Hun Cang blocked him and stomped his head into the dirt.
• Hun Cang looked at Ke Yu and beckoned him to fight next.

Hun Cang overwhelmed Luo Fei and Ke Yu during the Inner Academy assessment, defeating them with ease. The other examinees knelt and begged him to let them go.

• Hun Cang pinned Luo Fei beneath his foot, shocking Ke Yu, Sha Tie, Elder Su, Elder Lin, and Hu Gan.
• Elder Lin asked Elder Su and Hu Gan to keep Hun Cang's abilities secret until he could take him as a disciple, and Hu Gan accepted Spirit Cleansing Pills in exchange.
• Ke Yu attacked Hun Cang with his Wind Breaking Spear, but Hun Cang caught it barehanded and forced Ke Yu to his knees with it.
• Hun Cang stomped Luo Fei partly into the earth, and Luo Fei later lunged at him before diving back into the pit upon seeing Ke Yu defeated.
• Hun Cang turned to the other examinees, and they dropped to their knees, blaming Luo Fei and Ke Yu and pleading to be spared.

Hun Cang defeated Luo Fei, Ke Yu, and the other Inner Academy students, then forced them to hand over their Fire Energy and demanded that all assessment staff be brought to him. Outside, Elder Lin admitted that he had given Hun Cang the Fire Energy Counter as a reward, unaware of how Hun Cang would use it.

• Hun Cang defeated Luo Fei and Ke Yu, then demanded compensation and their Fire Energy.
• Luo Fei and Ke Yu revealed that Hun Cang would need a personal token to collect Fire Energy, but Hun Cang showed them a Fire Energy Counter marked with thirty.
• Hun Cang tortured Luo Fei and Ke Yu until they handed over their Fire Energy, then defeated the other students when they resisted.
• Hun Cang collected Fire Energy from everyone present and ordered them to contact every assessment staff member before the assessment ended.
• Hu Gan and Elder Su asked where Hun Cang had gotten his Fire Energy Counter, and Elder Lin admitted that he had awarded it to Hun Cang during the entrance assessment.

Hun Cang entered the Inner Academy after passing the assessment and went straight to the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower to cultivate. He reached the sealed entrance to the Falling Heart Flame but learned he could not go farther until he qualified through the Strong Ranking or became an elder.

• Hun Cang and Lin Fang returned with the ten students who passed the assessment, while Inner Academy students glared at Hun Cang over the Fire Energy he had taken from them.
• The newcomers arrived at the Inner Academy, received instructions and accommodations, and Elder Lin told Elder Su he planned to wait until Hun Cang was in trouble before offering to take him as a disciple.
• Hun Cang went to the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower with 150 Fire Energy and descended through its levels without reacting to the flames that frightened other newcomers.
• At a black door, an old man told Hun Cang that only the Strong Ranking's top ten and the elders could enter the area where the Falling Heart Flame was sealed.
• Hun Cang thanked the old man and entered a nearby cultivation room.

Hun Cang cultivated in seclusion while Hai Bodong waited for news, and Xiao Yan arrived at Hai Bodong’s shop, where he found the other half of an ancient map and delivered a pill from Hun Cang. Hai Bodong learned the pill could break the seal on his strength and hurried away to use it.

• Hun Cang set up a barrier, prepared medicinal pills, and began cultivating with the Fire Energy item.
• After nearly half a year without news from Hun Cang, Hai Bodong grew frustrated while waiting in his shop.
• Xiao Yan found a matching piece of the ancient map linked to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and took both pieces.
• Hai Bodong attacked Xiao Yan, but Yao Chen stopped the ice spears and revealed himself as Xiao Yan’s protector.
• Xiao Yan told Hai Bodong that Hun Cang had sent him and gave him a porcelain bottle of medicinal pills.
• Yao Chen identified the pill as a Breaking Calamity Pill that could undo Hai Bodong’s sealed strength, and Hai Bodong hurried to the back room.